The Life of a Wild Horse

Chapter 13

Part 4

When daylight broke we went into the valley, and we charged into the valley. I saw the stallion that had stolen my valley. He was much smaller than me now, I realized as I attacked him. He tried to kick my stomach, but I dodged him, and pushed him over. Now that I was on top of him I kicked his stomach, making blood come out. "You can have your valley, just let me keep my lead mare and I will leave!" He begged, and I slowly backed off. "Don't think that you can come back for your herd. Take your mare." I told him, watching with eagle eyes. He whinnied to one of the mares, who quietly followed him out.

Even though I had beat him, I knew that my father would not be able to. And I could see that stallion making a beeline for his herd. "I will be back, keep the herd safe." I told Moondust, and started running for Father's valley. When I got there, I saw that Father was losing badly. I came in between them, and felt a light accidental kick in the back from my father. "What are you doing here?!" Shrieked the stallion, backing away as fast as he could. "Family business. Would not want you to breed my mother if you won." I snarled, and he started to back away. He turned then, and left with his main mare.

I turned around to Father then, who was looking at me with fear in his eyes. I softly ran my face along his neck, telling him I was not stealing his herd. I turned and saw Mother, who was now much smaller than I was. I trotted over to her, nickering softly. She was now much smaller than me, a very different impression than the first day I saw her. "You have grown so large my son, such a muscular fella." She told me, gently nosing me. "I have missed you so much these last few years. The humans are completely terrible, except for one little girl." I told her, then started back towards my father.

"My son, I would like to thank you for saving my herd. I am in your debt," he told me, bowing his head slightly. "Anything for family. I have missed so much while being with the two leggers. I must be going back to my herd," I told him with a curt nod of my head, cantering back to my herd. It was early summer, and just about time for breeding. Moondust had not bred yet, even though the past stallion had wanted her to do so. She always would fight back, not wanting to have his foal.

"Would you still like to have a foal with me?" I asked her in a few days, and she gently nuzzled me. "Of course I would," she replied, and the next spring we had a beautiful filly. She was a dappled grey pain, the grey and white contrasting beautifully. Moondust decided to name her Violet after the flowers that surrounded her early moments in life. I can still recall the day she found her way back to the herd.